What kind and how many fish do we have in our SPS tanks?

[panic]

I have 6 large tangs in my 180, a CBB, and 6 or 8 other random medium size fish that don't "work." The tangs are big and fat, poop alot and are messy, but constantly at work keeping the tank clean. I just overcome by a big skimmer and consistent big water changes.

 

[jedi31]

It looks like most people have nice size bioloads in their tanks. I quess if you have a large skimmer and do water changes the sps love all the fish poop, plus the tank is more exciting with a tank full of different kinds of fish.

 

[serpentman]

You definitely want to consider the support equipment and husbandry when looking at bioloads. I run a big skimmer and do 10% PWC's weekly. I also feed relatively light.

Current levels:

Alk: 8.5
Ca: 450
Mg: 1350
NO3: ~2.5
PO4: I am sure its present but its undetectable with my kit
pH: 7.8 (night) - 8.2 (day)

Currently, my ORP has been stable around 420. Although this doesn't necessarily guarantee anything, I think things are in balance (knock on wood). We'll see how things look as the fish grow

 

[ryshark]

Wow how are those buterfly's with your SPS. It likes a lot of us take some chances with some possible coral nipping fish. I think I decided on the Bellus Angel.

Thanks

My female bellus has never picked at coral. I would recommend them

 

[myzislow]

in my 29 i have:

ora black ocellaris pair
ora golden assessor
ora neon blue goby
lubbocks wrasse
orchid dottyback

I'm tempted to add a dracula goby that they have down at my LFS, but I'm not sure if i have enough sand or him. I was running my tank with only the clown pair and the neon goby for awhile and wow was it boring. I forgot how cool fish are and how much movement they add to the tank. Now if only I had more room!

 

[StrategicReef]

in my 29 i have:

ora black ocellaris pair
ora golden assessor
ora neon blue goby
lubbocks wrasse
orchid dottyback

I'm tempted to add a dracula goby that they have down at my LFS, but I'm not sure if i have enough sand or him. I was running my tank with only the clown pair and the neon goby for awhile and wow was it boring. I forgot how cool fish are and how much movement they add to the tank. Now if only I had more room!

the dracula goby needs a real sand bed. Don't get one if you don't have much sand because I eventually lost mine in BB

 

[myzislow]

the dracula goby needs a real sand bed. Don't get one if you don't have much sand because I eventually lost mine in BB

Yeah, when you saw my tank it was totally BB. I've been slowly adding sand back in, but like you said I'm still not sure it would be enough for him to be 100% happy. They sure are a cool fish, though.

 

[StrategicReef]

It's lovely, maybe at least 1" sand. If you get a tiger pistol with it the color is almost a complete match like they are wearing uniforms

 

[karsco]

140 Cube:

Female Bellus angel
YB Hippo Tang
Mated false percs
Lubbocks wrasse

Will be adding:
Male Bellus (is shipping next week, I hope...)
5 EA Vanderbilt chromis
P. Mandarin
Mated pair of Hawiian Flame wrasses

and that will probably be it. +1 on the female bellus never touched a thing in my tank.

 

[reefinder]

in my 49.7 gallon I have
-a tiny blue atlantic tang i cought two weeks ago, abotu the size of a quater, i found him all banged up in the shallows on his side with half a tail and he is still living.
-1 candy hogfish
-1 scotter blenny
-2 blue spotted leopard wrasses
-1 sunburst anthia
-1 royal gamma

 

[jedi31]

reefinder,

How long there you have the blue star wrasse? I tried that fish and had no luck. I went with the mystery instead. Do you have any pics of the pair?

Thanks

 

[plyle02]

In my 70 gallon sps cube I have 11 fish...
1. black percula clown
2. percula clown
3. 3 large green chromis
4. cobberband butterfly
5. yellow coris wrasse
6. sixline wrasse
7. watchman goby
8. orchid dottyback
9. redfin lawnmower blenny

 

[reefinder]

I have had the blue star leopard wrasses for about a year and a half. I do not currently have any pics, but i will take some this weekend. I found that if you are going to have these shipped in as i did from live aquaria, have them shipped in whith sand. also About 4 months ago the larger of the two wrasses turned completly blue for a day, I thought he was changing and when i got home from work the next day he was back to their normal female coloring. cool fish, they have lived through two of my tank moves.

 

[cveverly]

My tank is 160 gallon with another 45-50 gallons in the sump. I am about 70% SPS and the rest is LPS and some softies.

Flame Angel
BiColor Angel
Queen Angel
Regal Angel
Percula Clown (pair)
Exquisite Wrasse
Christmas Wrasse
Scotts Fairy Wrasse
Purple Tang
Blue Reef Chromis
Red Mandarin
Yellow Watchman Goby
Royal Gramma (pair)
I am sure I forgot something but this is most of them.

I feed once or twice a day and skim heavy.

I do not have the ideal selection of fish for a reef but so far so good. Biggest losses are the softies, the angels took a liking to a couple of them. SPS polyp extension is poor and I suspect the BiColor is the cause of that. Although I recently found out my ALK was 16+ dhk due to a bad test kit and that may be part of my PE issue.

 

[jedi31]

cveverly,

How does your Regal Angel do with your SPS corals? I heard they only eat zoos and leave SPS alone.

 

[cveverly]

cveverly,

How does your Regal Angel do with your SPS corals? I heard they only eat zoos and leave SPS alone.

No problem with the SPS but snacks on xenia, nips the polyps on one toadstool and demolished a pulsing sinularia. I have a lot of zoas but I don't keep track of them, the Regal may eat them but I have never noticed it happening.

 

[brokereefer617]

in my 120 with 30g sump
i have
sohal
blonde naso
yellow tang
pair of orange skunks

 

[Laurier]

60Gal 48Lx18Wx16D

2x chromis
1x yellow watchman
1x royal gramma
1x tomato clown
1x yellow tang (im going to hate it when this guy out grows the tank)

looking to add 4-5 dispar Anthias

 

[shandy_say]

I have 10 fishes in my 70gal DT (100gal total water volume).

1 PT
4 Purple Queen Anthias
2 Banggai Cardinals
2 True Perculas
1 Antennae Goby

Still thinking if I should add a Sunburst Anthias and a Royal Gramma.

 

[advaquatics]

In my 150 cube:

1 Radiant Wrasse
3 half black half white chromis
1 blue spot jawfish
1 Mcklosker Flasher wrasse
1 bluejaw trigger
1 Sailfin tang

so far